Major city · Mexico
Comalcalco
Go for one night if you want the brick Maya ruins and a cacao hacienda; skip it as a base — Villahermosa has the airport, hotels and buses.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MXN
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (drier, less mud)
- avoid Sep–Oct (wettest), May–Jun (hot and humid)
- Airport
- VSA
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
- Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
- Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
- Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.
Comalcalco is a small cacao town in Tabasco, about an hour from Villahermosa, with the only major Maya site built from fired brick instead of limestone. The ruins, a chocolate hacienda and a painted village church fill a day; the town itself is quiet, walkable and cheap. Most travellers see it as a night or a long day trip from Villahermosa, not a multi-day stop.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Comalcalco, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Mexican peso (MXN, $).Mexico-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelcel has the widest coverage; AT&T and Movistar are cheaper in cities.Mexico-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels.Mexico-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurants: 10–15%; check the bill for an included 'servicio'.Mexico-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 127 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Mexico-wide
- SafetyComalcalco is a quiet, low-crime small town; the real risks are heat, mosquitoes and unmarked taxi fares.
- RestroomsPut paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places; public toilets charge MXN 5–10.Mexico-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance (all mexico) · 078 Tourist assistance (Ángeles Verdes / SECTUR)
- Sundays & holidaysMost museums and many archaeological sites close on Mondays; banks close on public holidays.Mexico-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportVSA Villahermosa (Carlos Rovirosa Pérez) (About 1 h by taxi or bus to Comalcalco; the nearest airport.).
- Getting aroundThe town centre is small enough to walk.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or agua frescaM$25–50 (≈ US$2–3)
- Sit-down mealSit-down meal (steakhouse or regional)M$200–350 (≈ US$11–19)
- Street or quick mealStreet tacos or market mealM$60–120 (≈ US$4–7)
- BeerBeer / micheladaM$40–90 (≈ US$3–5)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi across townM$40–80 (≈ US$3–5) (check)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekM$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)
- Museum or sight ticketArchaeological site entryM$85 (≈ US$5) (check)
- Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomMX$900 (≈ US$50)
- Mid-range bedSimple hotel double room, a night, per roomMX$800 (≈ US$45)
- High-end bedSimple hotel double room, a night, per roomMX$1,500 (≈ US$85)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$700 (≈ US$40) · Mid MX$1,200 (≈ US$65) · High MX$2,200 (≈ US$120)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- VSA Villahermosa (Carlos Rovirosa Pérez) (About 1 h by taxi or bus to Comalcalco; the nearest airport.)
Weather and climate
Comalcalco: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
28°C82°F
20°C68°F
8 rd
Feb
29°C84°F
20°C68°F
6 rd
Mar
32°C90°F
22°C72°F
5 rd
Apr
34°C93°F
23°C73°F
5 rd
May
35°C95°F
24°C75°F
8 rd
Jun
34°C93°F
24°C75°F
15 rd
Jul
33°C91°F
24°C75°F
16 rd
Aug
33°C91°F
24°C75°F
17 rd
Sep
32°C90°F
24°C75°F
19 rd
Oct
31°C88°F
23°C73°F
16 rd
Nov
30°C86°F
22°C72°F
11 rd
Dec
29°C84°F
21°C70°F
9 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town centre is small enough to walk. Taxis wait near the zócalo; ride-hailing apps do not work here, so agree the fare before you get in. For the ruins, Cupilco church and the eco reserve you need a taxi or your own car.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Villahermosa
goDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h
Comalli Plus bus from Reforma 505, Centro, every 20 min
Airport, museums and onward buses; some 'direct' services detour via Cárdenas.
Paraíso
goDoor to door: About 30–40 min
Bus or taxi on the Comalcalco–Paraíso road
Gulf-coast town with seafood; easy half-day.
Cupilco (Santuario La Asunción de María)
goDoor to door: 10–15 min each way
Taxi from the centre
Brightly painted church with Maya motifs; short, worthwhile side trip.
Reserva Ecológica Río Playa
cautionDoor to door: About 20–30 min
Taxi toward Ignacio Zaragoza, 3rd–4th sections
Community-run ejido reserve, birdwatching; arrange your return ride.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Centro (around the zócalo)
Walkable to the market, Hacienda la Luz and most eateries; taxis wait near the plaza.
North side / Nte 1ra Secc
Closest to the archaeological site and the road to Paraíso; quieter, fewer services.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- M$500–900 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
- Mid
- M$900–1,600 (≈ US$50–90) excl. bed
- High
- M$1,600 (≈ US$90)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Simple hotel double room1 × 1 night × MX$800 | MX$800 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × MX$1,200 | MX$2,400 |
| Bus Villahermosa ↔ Comalcalco, both ways2 × MX$80 · check | MX$160 |
| Taxi to the ruins and back1 × MX$200 · check | MX$200 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$250 | MX$500 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MX$406 |
| Trip total≈ MX$2,233 per person per day, bed included | MX$4,466≈ US$250 |
2026 estimate in pesos; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or agua fresca | M$25–50 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Street tacos or market meal | M$60–120 (≈ US$4–7) |
| Sit-down meal (steakhouse or regional) | M$200–350 (≈ US$11–19) |
| Beer / michelada | M$40–90 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Taxi across town | M$40–80 (≈ US$3–5) (check) |
| Archaeological site entry | M$85 (≈ US$5) (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | M$200–400 (≈ US$11–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Ride-hailing apps do not operate in Comalcalco: use taxis or the bus.
- Some 'direct' Villahermosa buses detour through Cárdenas and take over an hour.
- The ruins are in tropical jungle: bring mosquito repellent and sun protection.
- Site signs are faded and mostly Spanish-only; English guides are not always available.
- Afternoon heat is strong; go to the ruins at opening.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance (all Mexico)
- 911
- Tourist assistance (Ángeles Verdes / SECTUR)
- 078
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
ComalcalcoComalcalco
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Tourist assistance078
Embassy
No embassy in Comalcalco; the US and most countries have embassies in Mexico City, with consular agencies in Villahermosa (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Comalcalco → Villahermosa (Comalli Plus): from about M$40 (≈ US$3), every 20 min, about 1 h (check)
- Taxi centre → ruins: M$80–120 (≈ US$5–7) (check)
- Taxi centre → Cupilco church: M$80–150 (≈ US$5–9) (check)
Say or show
- Disculpe — Excuse me / Sorry (dees-KOOL-peh)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syahs)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
- ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah)
- ¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the toilet? (DON-deh es-TAH el BAH-nyoh)
- A las ruinas, por favor — The ruins, please (ah las RWEE-nas por fah-VOR)
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Comalcalco. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr (drier, less mud) · avoid Sep–Oct (wettest), May–Jun (hot and humid) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for VSA: last bus and taxi fallback to Comalcalco, field-checked.
- Walking clusters: zócalo and market, Hacienda la Luz, north-side ruins.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (ruins, Hacienda la Luz, Cupilco) and eat pages with last orders.
- Rainy-season and heat fixtures so gates A–D can go green.